Body armor stabilization system

ABSTRACT

An armored garment stabilization system utilizing a shirt with fastening means for the stabilization of ballistic armor and ballistic armor carriers worn over the shirt.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to protective ballistic armorand more particularly to its stabilization so that its intendedplacement on its wearer, does not repeatedly shift and requirereadjustment.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It can be appreciated protective ballistic armor is an important lifesaving tool for government law enforcement, military, and tacticaloperations personnel, hereinafter “law enforcement personnel.” Theconventional “bullet-proof” vest is usually constructed of severalpanels, each assembled and connected to each other by durable fabric orelastic so that the resulting vest can be worn conformably against theupper torso of a users body. It is also common to have smaller panels orsections of bulletproof material inserted into a common “carrier” or“shell” that is then worn as the “vest.”

In the course carrying out their duties, law enforcement personnel may,in part, engage in some or all of the following: walking, running,extending outwardly to reach, bending over, stretching, entering andexiting vehicles, restraining suspects, making arrests and engaging inother physical activities.

The main problem with conventional “bulletproof” vests arrises whentheir user becomes physically active, the vest's position will slidablyshift resulting in the need for readjustment in order to return the vestback to a proper and comfortable position on the user's body. Onewell-known approach, involves anchoring the bulletproof vest through theuse of one or more extended fabric portions, commonly referred to as“tails.” Relying purely on frictional forces for securement, these socalled tails are typically tucked underneath the user's belt or pants atthe user's waste. Unfortunately, even after modest physical activity itis very common for these tails to pull up and out of their desiredposition, ultimately leaving the user with the need to both: fix thepositioning of their body armor; and re-secure the body armor tails.

Other well-known attempts to secure body armor include variouscombinations of straps, fasteners, and tails. However, they do notprovide the improved stabilization design of the present invention.Consequently, there is a need for a body armor stabilization system forbulletproof vests worn by for law enforcement personnel whose positionalstability will persist for the entire duration of a law enforcementofficer's work shift.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment that includes a shirt to beworn on the torso of a user with a securing region on its exterior and aprotective ballistic armor having a corresponding securing region on itsinterior for coupling therewith.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the protective ballisticarmor is enclosed in a carrier that has a corresponding securing regiondisposed on its interior whereby the securing regions are filled withopposing hook and loop fastening material.

In a different embodiment of the invention, instead of having acorresponding securing region disposed on the interior of the carrier,an enclosing carrier may have “cut out” regions that correspond to thesecuring region of the interior the protective ballistic armor, therebyallowing the fastening material located on the securing region of theprotective ballistic armor to be exposed and secured directly to theshirt through the carrier.

In the present invention each securing region can be replaced by othersuitable means of attachment as will be apparent to those having skillin the art. Other suitable means of attachment may include, but arecertainly not limited, magnetic fasteners, buttons, clips, buckles,snaps, or any other suitable attachment means.

There has thus been outlined the more important features of theinvention in order that the detailed description may be betterunderstood, and so that the present contribution to the art may bebetter appreciated.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notcommitted in its application to the details of construction andarrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways aswill be apparent from the description herein to those having skill inthe art. Also, it is to be understood that the terminology employedherein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regardedas limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings.However, the drawings are elicited only and changes may be made into anyspecific construction illustrated without departing from the principlesof the invention. Various other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become fully appreciated, as the same becomesbetter understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the protective ballistic armorcarrier of the present invention with a portion of the securing regionshown in phantom.

FIG. 2 is front view of the shirt of the present invention with thesecuring region on its exterior.

FIG. 3 is a top fold out view of the protective ballistic armor of thepresent invention having a corresponding securing region on its interiorfor coupling therewith.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the protective ballistic armorcarrier of the present invention having an interior region cut outthereby exposing portion of the protective ballistic armor's securingregion shown in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the protective ballistic armor carrier (10),comprises a securing region (12). In one example, both sides of thecarrier may be held together with additional securing straps (14). Inthe preferred embodiment the securing region (12) has fastening material(11) disposed thereon.

Referring to FIG. 2, the shirt (20) comprises a securing region (22). Ina preferred embodiment the securing region (22) is comprised of afastening material (23). In another embodiment, a tactile region (21) ofthe shirt (20) has a grippingly adhesive tactile material disposedthereon, which maybe tucked into the pants of a user to provideadditional stabilization along region (24). The regional line is notactually drawn on the shirt (20), it is simply illustrated in this wayfor convenience.

Referring to FIG. 3, the protective ballistic armor of the presentinvention has a corresponding securing region (32) on its interiorsurface. In another embodiment, both sides of the ballistic armor may beheld together with additional securing straps (33). In the preferredembodiment the securing region (32) has fastening material (31) disposedthereon.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment where the protective ballistic armor carrierhas an interior region cut out (42) thereby exposing portion of theprotective ballistic armor's securing region (43) so that fasteningmaterial (41) is exposed there through. This allows the fasteningmaterial (41) to secure directly to the fastening material of the shirtshown in FIG. 2.

It should be noted that the invention is not limited to only onesecuring region. In an alternative embodiment a plurality of securingregions may be used. Additionally, the securing regions are not limitedto specific location and can appear on any portion of the invention. Inyet another embodiment a plurality of tactile regions can be used tofurther frictionally secure various portions of the invention.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a newbody armor stabilization system, where comfort and stability areincreased.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, theforegoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of theinvention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A body armor stabilization system, comprising: astabilizing shirt to be worn on the torso of a user wherein the exteriorof said shirt includes a securing region having fastening materialdisposed thereon; and a protective ballistic armor configured aswearable vest, having a corresponding securing region with fasteningmaterial disposed thereon, on the interior of said protective ballisticarmor for coupling to said shirt when said protective ballistic armor isworn over said shirt.
 2. The body armor stabilization system of claim 1,wherein said protective ballistic armor is housed in a ballistic armorcarrier having the region that corresponds with said protectiveballistic armor securing region cut out, thereby exposing saidprotective ballistic armor's fastening material for securement to saidstabilizing shirt.
 3. The body armor stabilization system of claim 2,wherein said stabilizing shirt further includes a lower tactile regionhaving tactile material disposed thereon to provide additionalstabilization by allowing a user to tuck said tactile region into otherclothing said user is wearing.
 4. A body armor stabilization system,comprising: a stabilizing shirt to be worn on the torso of a userwherein the exterior of said shirt includes a securing region havingfastening material disposed thereon; and a ballistic armor carrierconfigured as wearable vest, having a corresponding securing region withfastening material disposed thereon, on the interior of said ballisticarmor carrier for coupling to said shirt when said protective ballisticarmor carrier is worn over said shirt.
 5. The body armor stabilizationsystem of claim 4, wherein said stabilizing shirt further includes alower tactile region having tactile material disposed thereon to provideadditional stabilization by allowing a user to tuck said tactile regioninto other clothing said user is wearing.